When it comes to relaxing, there are a few things we can all think of those who enjoy Spa days, cuddling up by the fire, staying on the couch until p.m. and of course getting massage. Although massage can be great to relax, it has more therapeutic benefits, too.
The word “massage” in itself encompasses many different kinds of massages, ranging from Swedish massage (the most commonly used kind) and massages that have a specific focus and reason, such as a sports massage, which is targeted to aid athletes in recovering.
Whatever the form that you choose to use, the benefits of massage all boil down to one thing that is pressure. “The skin is moved when you perform moderate pressure, which leads to a calming and slowing of the nervous system” says Tiffany Field, PhD, director of Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. This slowing of the nervous system can cause various physiological effects such as a reduction of heart beat, reduced levels of blood pressure, as well as improvements to EEG the patterns (electrical activity of your brain) According to Field.
Plus, in order to experience the benefits, it takes less time than you’d imagine. “For research we’re able document positive effects from massages that take only 20 minutes,” says Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, chief of the psychiatric services offered by Emory Healthcare, who has led multiple studies focused on the effects of massage. That means when you go to get a massage (most of which are usually advertised as being between 50 and 60 minutes long, says the doctor. Rapaport), you’re at a disadvantage for longer than enough time to get the best benefits.
What if you don’t have the money to visit the spa down the street? “You do not have to see any massage therapist every day,” says Field. “You could give yourself an ointment.” Since we’re able reach all areas on our body it is possible to do 20 minutes of self-massage with an electric massager in the shower or even rubbing a tennis ball against your legs, Field explains.
If you’re thinking about scheduling a session for a massager, here are six of the treatments most significant benefits you should know about.
If you’re suffering from anxiety, one study suggests that massage could help decrease the symptoms. “What we believe could be happening is the reduction of the sympathetic tone we experience in patients with generalized anxiety disorder and enhancing the parasympathetic response,” says Dr. Rapaport, who led the study.
Your body actually has two different system of nerves: your sympathetic nerve system and the parasympathetic system. “Your sympathetic system controls fight or fight,” says Rudy Gehrman, DC, a sports medicine chiropractor and founder of Physio Logic in New York. “If you’re getting caught by a lion that’s your sympathetic nerve.”
During a massage, however your parasympathetic (or the calming) response increases that can result in a reduction in anxiety, as per the doctor. Rapaport.
And equally great news? Massage’s effects on decreased anxiety can actually be long-lasting. “We did an informal follow-up, and a significant number of those who were treated remained stress-free in the range of six months to 18 months after,” says Dr. Rapaport.
Are you struggling to sleep or suffering from insomnia? Massage therapy can help you sleep more deeply. “Sleep is all about how much activity there is inside the brain,” states Field. When you receive massages, your nervous system decreases due to the pressure.
Plus, when you’re getting more restorative, deeper sleep, she adds that this decreases the levels of substance P (a neurotransmitter used to treat pain), which reduces general pain. If you’re struggling with pain, massage can do double-duty.
We’ve all been there: You’ve been twirling and tossing all night, the work load has been exhausting, and you feel like you don’t even have 5 minutes for taking a long breath. “Some sufferers are tired because they’re sleeping too little,” says Dr. Rapaport. “Other people get fatigued because of some biological factors.”
But no matter what the cause of your fatigue, an simple solution is (you guessed it) a massage. In fact, one 2018 study by Dr. Rapaport found that breast cancer patients who were treated weekly with Swedish massages experienced a reduction in their fatigue, a very debilitating aspect of the cancer. For the most effective results in accordance with Dr. Rapaport’s study, try taking a massage twice a week.
Aid certain health conditions
Your body has two different immune systems: Th1 as well as Th2, and they need to be in harmony to ensure that your immune system functioning optimally, says Field. “If Th2 becomes excess of the Th1 system it is a sign that you are suffering from issues with your autoimmune system,” she says.
While you massage, you’re decreasing stress hormones to aid in maintaining this balance, she says. In turn, this could aid in making autoimmune diseases, such as asthma and type 1 diabetes or dermatitis, easier to manage due to things like reduced pain or fatigue.
Are you having trouble staying focused in a conference for longer than 10 minutes, or doing a book reading before bed? Massages can actually improve your attention span and ability to concentrate.
That’s because in order for you to be able to focus your heart rate has to be reduced. “If there’s a reason I’m not attentive, it’s because my heart rate is elevated,” says Field. “And when I get my heart rate down I’ll pay more attention.”
Because a massage slows your nervous system, the heart rate will slow down also. During a massage, your pressure receptors stimulate vagal activity which originates from a nerve within your brain which leads to a variety of parts of your body including the heart, says Field. When you’re under the stress of a massage it could decrease the heart rate and also, ultimately, can improve your concentration.
If you’ve been injured or joint pain (especially when the issue is persistent or long-term), says Gehrman it’s possible to have what’s known as soft tissue restrictions, which cause knots or trigger areas of pain. “Massage Therapists are working to rid themselves of tightness in the soft tissues and increasing the circulation of blood,” Gehrman says.
The restrictions may, over time, cause problems like joint decay or other ligament-related issues. So by systematically massaging those soft tissue restrictions, you’re not only helping the injury you’re currently experiencing, but also helping prevent against future problems later on. However, the most important aspect to consider to consider when receiving a massage for your injury is to go to an experienced, licensed massage therapist who is experienced with injured patients.
“Because any kind of soft tissue work, you’re essentially creating damage to the scientific community in the process, and if you’re working too deep, then that person isn’t able to heal from the procedure,” says Gehrman. A qualified, licensed massage therapist is able to assess which areas near the injury require massage, and which areas are best to avoid.
Do you have any concerns about massages?
While there isn’t any evidence-based negative effects of massage, if you have a medical history involving things like cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, those are things you should make the massage professional aware and go to someone who is experienced with that particular problem.
Women expecting a baby are advised to seek out an acupuncturist with pregnancy experience–“For pregnant females you need to be extremely careful about your posture,” says Gehrman.
Anyone suffering from osteoporosis ought to find the help of a professional who has expertise in that, as well. “You can easily potentially fracture bones or break ribs in the event that a person is, really osteoporotic,” Gehrman says. Gehrman.
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